JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – After three years of negotiations, traditional owners represented by the Anindilyakwa Land Council (ALC) and managers at the Gemco manganese mine have settled on a range of landmark agreements to substantially expand the Gemco mine, located on Australia’s Groote Eylandt, which will generate new opportunities for traditional owners.

The parties had entered into two main agreements, including the expansion of the 50-year-old historical mining operational areas to the east, and a large and comprehensive exploration agreement over the south-west part of Groote Eylandt. They also agreed on how royalties from the mine would flow and how community benefit programmes would be funded.

“We know the mine is here to stay for some time to come, so we needed a way that all parties can work together respectfully for our mutual benefit,” said ALC chairperson Tony Wurramarrba at the launch of the new agreement on Tuesday.

“Our people will now have the certainty of funds to grow their communities. Our kids will have a future growing up on this place. They will have improved housing and education opportunities. They will be able to immerse themselves in their culture and their languages. And people will be able to follow their dreams by setting up new employment and business opportunities, which we will help them start and manage,” he said.

Wurramarrba added that the council would be future proofing the traditional owners’ economic base by putting a significant portion of the royalties into a trust fund, which would build a nest egg in preparation for the mine’s end of life.

The ALC had established an economic development unit that would help shape and fund businesses on the island, as well as help people run and grow those businesses.

“We are already looking at businesses in the tourism, mining services, retail and trades industries. It’s got our people excited having these resources and assistance,” he said.

The ALC added that this unit would be additionally supported by the establishment of an Economic Development Framework Agreement between ALC and Gemco to optimise outcomes for the new agreements.

Over the last two years the ALC had kick-started more than 80 projects across the Groote Archipelago to improve basic infrastructure such as roads and sewerage, new housing, and services for the youth. ALC was also investing in preserving and promoting the unique language, cultural and pristine environmental assets of the islands and the people.

“We want to preserve our culture by teaching it to our kids in an interesting way. We are also happy to invest in tourism infrastructure and businesses to show the rest of the world our place and our heritage,” concluded Wurramarrba.